During 35+ years in business I have observed an amazing phenomenon that requires an entirely new perspective in the way business relationships are most optimally developed. I call it the Aspen Paradigm. The Aspen is the world's largest single organism. A grove of aspen trees appears to be multiple individuals because each has its own distinct trunk. We see individual trees of many different sizes and ages. The secret to the aspen grove lies not on the surface that we see, but in the massive single root system that we do not see! This amazing single organism is the largest on earth and provides permanent support and sustenance to each and every individual tree and sapling. TOP

Businesses typically grow using the "from the little acorn a mighty oak will grow" paradigm. It's this paradigm that I'm asking you to evaluate. Using the "mighty oak" model to build businesses requires focusing primarily on our own resources and seeing ourselves as strong individualists. We even refer to ourselves as "sole proprietors." Being strong in our businesses is essential, but as "sole proprietors" we set ourselves up in a most lonely thought process. Believe me I know this model can work. We all either know businesses that have thrived under this paradigm or have built our own successful businesses under this paradigm. But my proposal to you is to consider the paradigm that allows us to step out of this current perspective and make some observations about the relationships we have to all those with whom we interact: family, friends, suppliers, service people, business associates, contractors, employees, affiliates, and the list goes on. Are you recognizing from this perspective that a synergy exists with all these relationships? Being aware of this synergy allows you to tap into the strengths of these relationships. TOP

The Aspen Grove looks like a dozen, many dozen, hundreds, thousands of individual trees. But looks are deceiving. The root system of every Aspen Grove, no matter how small or how large, is a single organism that provides support and sustenance to each individual tree. This is the Aspen Paradigm. Adjusting our thinking to the Aspen Paradigm allows us to fully recognize and utilize the energy that each of our relationships provides and the amazing depth and breadth the compounding effects these relationships have on our lives. The massive oak stands on its own without the need for numbers to support and maintain it but the Aspen Paradigm allows us to draw on a deeper, broader support system. TOP
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